onefrombills
02-24-2009, 01:55 AM
LAS VEGAS - After traveling more than 10 hours by plane to reach the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, Andy Parish and his team from Oxfordshire, England, made their trip a little more exciting by taking the lead in Classified Team on Sunday.
Brits on Tour marched into Cashman Center and posted games of 868, 889 and 914 to secure the top spot with a 2,671 team total. Fairbault Foods of Cokato, Minn., previously held the lead with 2,509.
Kevin Furness led the team with a 593 series and was followed by Parish (546), Ken Iredale (527), Alan Furness (511) and Peter Fyles (494).
"We were shocked to hear that our scores held up and we took the lead," said Iredale, who made his third appearance at the Open Championships. "This is by far the best we have bowled as a team since we started attending this tournament."
Back in England, the team participates in an official USBC league, which requires them to become members of USBC and makes them eligible to participate in the Open Championships.
After becoming members about three years ago, the team received USBC's US Bowler magazine and read about the Open Championships for the first time.
"In England, bowling is not viewed so much as a sport, but as leisure activity," said Parish, who made his second trip to the Open Championships. "But when we come here, it's a whole different thing. The hospitality alone is out of this world."
The Brits on Tour bowlers returned to the lanes Monday and cracked the top 10 in Classified Doubles and Classified All-Events.
Alan and Kevin Furness are now third in doubles with 1,110, while Parish and Iredale are fourth with 1,102. Joel Olson and Cory Forcht of Greenfield, Iowa, who bowled on the same doubles and singles squad, now lead with 1,137. Iredale is third on the all-events list with 1,704.
Late Sunday night, Ryan Knutson of Dilworth, Minn., also made his mark on the leaderboards and now leads Classified All-Events with 1,750 and Classified Singles with 664.
"This is by far the best nine-games I put together at nationals," said Knutson, who attended his seventh Open Championships. "I had an idea I was getting close to the lead in All-Events after doubles, and after my singles I knew I had to be up there towards the top. I think my singles score has a better chance of holding up longer than my All-Events."
Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.
Brits on Tour marched into Cashman Center and posted games of 868, 889 and 914 to secure the top spot with a 2,671 team total. Fairbault Foods of Cokato, Minn., previously held the lead with 2,509.
Kevin Furness led the team with a 593 series and was followed by Parish (546), Ken Iredale (527), Alan Furness (511) and Peter Fyles (494).
"We were shocked to hear that our scores held up and we took the lead," said Iredale, who made his third appearance at the Open Championships. "This is by far the best we have bowled as a team since we started attending this tournament."
Back in England, the team participates in an official USBC league, which requires them to become members of USBC and makes them eligible to participate in the Open Championships.
After becoming members about three years ago, the team received USBC's US Bowler magazine and read about the Open Championships for the first time.
"In England, bowling is not viewed so much as a sport, but as leisure activity," said Parish, who made his second trip to the Open Championships. "But when we come here, it's a whole different thing. The hospitality alone is out of this world."
The Brits on Tour bowlers returned to the lanes Monday and cracked the top 10 in Classified Doubles and Classified All-Events.
Alan and Kevin Furness are now third in doubles with 1,110, while Parish and Iredale are fourth with 1,102. Joel Olson and Cory Forcht of Greenfield, Iowa, who bowled on the same doubles and singles squad, now lead with 1,137. Iredale is third on the all-events list with 1,704.
Late Sunday night, Ryan Knutson of Dilworth, Minn., also made his mark on the leaderboards and now leads Classified All-Events with 1,750 and Classified Singles with 664.
"This is by far the best nine-games I put together at nationals," said Knutson, who attended his seventh Open Championships. "I had an idea I was getting close to the lead in All-Events after doubles, and after my singles I knew I had to be up there towards the top. I think my singles score has a better chance of holding up longer than my All-Events."
Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.